Adaptive wall insulating system

ABSTRACT

A building wall or a system for insulating a building wall, comprising: an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired. A method for insulating a building wall comprises the employment of such a system.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/895,468, filed Mar. 18, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to building walls and to systems and methods for insulating building walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the applicant's invention provide one or more of the following advantages: conversion of solar radiation to thermal energy for heating a building; trapping heat energy thus generated through the use of insulation that is transparent to solar radiation; providing evaporative cooling for a building during the warmer portion of the year; deciduous vegetation providing shading of the building surface from solar radiation during the warmer portion of the year; a shaded and relatively cool volume of air contained between an adaptive shading mechanism and a building wall; an adaptive reduction in shading and corresponding increase in solar radiation reaching the exterior walls of a building and ultimately reaching the interior of the building through the natural activity of increasing and decreasing foliage of a deciduous plant.

This general description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an example of a building wall according to the claimed invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the action of a system according to the claimed invention during portions of the year in which the deciduous vegetation has leaves.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the action of a system according to the claimed invention during portions of the year in which the deciduous vegetation has a reduced amount of leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Applicant now describes in detail embodiments of the claimed invention. The described embodiments are examples. This detailed description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system according to the claimed invention. The claimed invention may be implemented either by constructing a building wall according to the invention or by retrofitting of an existing building wall. In either case, the completed or retrofitted building wall comprises: an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of the building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired.

Preferably the plant matter may comprise deciduous vines. Preferably the absorbing layer comprises a hard material having a dark surface facing said exterior of said building. Alternatively or in conjunction with the use of a hard material, the absorbing layer may comprise a dark fabric.

Preferably the support structure comprises a frame attached to said building by a plurality of anchor members. The support structure may form a grid matching the shape of the building wall upon which it is installed; the support structure may preferably be attached to the building wall at a plurality or regularly spaced locations. Preferably the support structure is suspended at a distance between about 5 inches (13 cm) and about 24 inches (31 cm) from said exterior of the building wall.

In FIG. 1, the left side of the figure faces the exterior of the building, while the right side of the figure faces the interior of the building. FIG. 1 shows transparent insulation with an absorbing layer. The translucent insulation may be translucent or transparent and will admit solar radiation but have a low thermal conductivity. This insulation is commercially available and is called Transparente Waermdaemmung (Wärmdämmung) in German. In this example, the absorbing layer is a dark board disposed toward the interior of the building from the translucent insulation and placed in position so that the dark board can receive solar radiation passing through the translucent insulation from the outside of the building. A dark fabric or other dark material may be used in place of the dark board. The system also includes a hangar spacer, which is a member affixed to the building wall. The hangar spacers, of which two are shown in the drawing, affix the support structure to the building wall. The hangar spacers suspend the support structure at a distance from the building wall. A rope, mesh, or other suitable support structure is supported by said hangar spacers to permit a deciduous vine to grow up said structure and be in position to provide shade of solar radiation to the building wall.

FIG. 2 demonstrates the operation of the system during a portion of the year in which the deciduous vines have their leaves. The deciduous vines 1) absorb and re-emit a portion of the solar radiation that would otherwise strike the building, and 2) provide cooling via the process of evapotranspiration from leaf surfaces, thus reducing the temperature of the air between the vine screen and the building wall. Insulation reduces transmission of heat energy into the building. Preferably under most weather conditions, the deciduous vines and support structure provide a volume of relatively still air having a reduced temperature compared to the temperature of air that would be found near the building wall without the shading of the adaptive shading mechanism.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the system during a portion of the year in which the deciduous vines have lost their leaves. In this portion of the year, a much greater portion of the solar radiation is permitted to strike the exterior of the building, resulting in more solar heating of the building than would occur if the vines retained their leaves. The translucent insulation will admit solar radiation but inhibit the flow of heat energy, generated on the dark backing material, back out of the building. Thus, FIGS. 2 and 3 demonstrate an embodiment of the system of the claimed invention that is naturally self-regulating so that it provides shading during an appropriate portion of the year and permits more radiation to pass through during an appropriate portion of the year.

Mechanisms for supporting plant growth on exterior walls of buildings are well known. For example, see the appendix to this application for a catalog for the Jackob® Inox line of mechanisms for supporting plant growth on the exterior of buildings.

Applicant hereby incorporates the appendix herein by reference. In addition, applicant incorporates the following U.S. patents by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 194,102 to Muller; U.S. Pat. No. 1,933,218 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,840 to Davidson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,013 to Robins; U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,151 to Simko, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,412 to Grochal; U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,537 to Hively; U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,566 to Grochal; U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,079 to Schwarz. Applicant's system may anchored to the wall by any sufficiently sturdy method, including adhesives, threaded fasteners, and other methods

Applicant's method for controlling the flow of heat into a building comprises: providing an insulating layer of transparent insulation; disposing said transparent insulation upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; providing an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; providing an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired; disposing said adaptive shading mechanism upon the exterior of said building. Optionally a method according to the invention comprises: providing an absorbing layer capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; disposing said absorbing layer toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive said portion of said solar radiation and convert said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy. 

1. A building wall, comprising: an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired.
 2. A building wall according to claim 1, wherein said plant matter comprises deciduous vines.
 3. A building wall according to claim 1, wherein said absorbing layer comprises a hard material having a dark surface facing said exterior of said building.
 4. A building wall according to claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a frame attached to said building by a plurality of anchor members.
 5. A building wall according to claim 1, wherein said support structure is suspended at a distance between about 5 inches (13 cm) and about 24 inches (31 cm) from said exterior of said building.
 6. A system for insulating a building wall, comprising: an insulating layer of translucent insulation disposed upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive at least of portion of said solar radiation, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired.
 7. A system for insulating a building wall according to claim 6, wherein said plant matter comprises deciduous vines.
 8. A system for insulating a building wall according to claim 6, wherein said absorbing layer comprises a hard material having a dark surface facing said exterior of said building.
 9. A system for insulating a building wall according to claim 6, wherein said support structure comprises a frame attached to said building by a plurality of anchor members.
 10. A system for insulating a building wall according to claim 6, wherein said support structure is suspended at a distance between about 5 inches (13 cm) and about 24 inches (31 cm) from said exterior of said building.
 11. A method for controlling the flow of heat into a building, comprising: providing an insulating layer of transparent insulation; disposing said transparent insulation upon an exterior wall of a building so as to be exposed to solar radiation; providing an absorbing layer disposed toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer, said absorbing layer being capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; providing an adaptive shading mechanism disposed exterior of said transparent insulation, said adaptive shading mechanism comprising: a support structure secured to said building and adapted to support plant matter at a distance therefrom; plant matter disposed upon said support structure in a position to at least partially shade said exterior of said building from said solar radiation, said plant matter being selected so that said plant matter changes during a certain portion of the calendar year so as to increase the amount of solar radiation reaching said exterior of said building, said portion of the calendar year being a portion in which relatively greater solar heating of said building is desired; disposing said adaptive shading mechanism upon the exterior of said building.
 12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing an absorbing layer capable of absorbing a portion of said solar radiation and converting said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy; disposing said absorbing layer toward the interior of said building from said insulating layer in a position to receive said portion of said solar radiation and convert said portion of said solar radiation to thermal energy. 